WHAT I LOVE ABOUT SYVFS

The nature connection and philosophy drew me into FS. The focus on the entire developing child and their future, as opposed to numbers needed for funding and compliance w/o critical thinking has me hooked!

I've gotten to work on a lot of different school campuses as a third party behavior interventionalist, and I can wholeheartedly say that Family School is so different, in the best of ways.

This school is alive in a way that can only happen when students and staff feel seen, heard, supported, and respected. I'm happy to be a part of it.

WHY I DO WHAT I DO

I do what I do to help protect and foster the development of humans, big and small. My wish for every child is to grow into the most capable, compassionate, intelligent, and intentional beings they can be…while having lots of fun exploring their natural and imagined worlds along the way!

WHEN NOT AT SCHOOL

Spending time with family and friends, listening to music, taking my pup on a nature walk, or reading!

PASSIONS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

• Advocating for all things fragile and/or feared - from small humans to spiders.

• Bringing music/dance/art into any aspects of life that will allow it

• Writing, poetry, and most modes of genuine human expression

• Wildlife and environmental conservation

• Exploration and reflection of self and the world around us

FAVORITE PLACE ON CAMPUS

The Green Door yard is always filled with such sweet giggles, imagination, and bravery. I think humans are the purest forms of themselves at this age and are the most excited to grow. The uninhibited and silly atmosphere is contagious out there, and I live for it!

FAVORITE SYVFS TRADITION

I'm looking forward to experiencing so many traditions this school year as a new full-time staff member. My favorite FS tradition I've gotten to witness, so far, was definitely the all-school play at the end of the year that the kids worked so hard on. A close second would be the monthly hikes on Upper Campus.

WE LOVE READING! HERE ARE TWO OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS FOR KIDS:

• Amelia Bedelia by Herman Parish

  • Always a silly read and a great conversation opener to discuss social cues and context clues in a fun way.

• FernGully by Dianna Young

  • This story still has me believing I'm a forest fairy that can save the world. It was such an impactful and fun change of perspective as a child.

• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

  • While there are some darker themes, I have yet to hear any bad reviews from this age group. Purple Door is a great developmental stage to learn these two lessons safely from the pages of a fictional story: That things can always get worse… and that you can always find a way out, no matter how bad or difficult things may seem.

Happy reading 🧡